It has been the recurring question in Australian cricket for much of the past decade: where have all the young batsmen gone?

We might have a finally have an answer: they're back dotted around the Sheffield Shield ranks.

On the rise: Cameron Bancroft of Western Australia.Credit:Getty Images

There were scant crowds at the MCG and Adelaide Oval when Beau Webster and Jack Wildermuth made centuries this week. While both would have been chuffed to have posted their maiden ton, what was even more significant was that their feats extended what is now undoubtedly the stand-out season for young batsmen over the past two decades.

The innings of Tasmania's Webster and Queensland's Wildermuth took the tally of under-23 batsmen to have made a made a shield century this season to nine, following Ashton Agar, Cameron Bancroft, Sam Heazlett, Travis Head, Marcus Labuschagne, Will Bosisto and Matt Renshaw.

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Not since 1993-94, when the likes of Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn were under 23, has there been so many young batsmen achieving that feat.

What has made it particularly noteworthy is that the second half of the shield season has only just begun, creating the potential for others to join them.

Furthermore, for all bar Bancroft it was the first time they had managed a century. In 1993-94, six of the 12 had made their maiden century beforehand.

Even as recently as three years ago, the situation did not look rosy. Across 2012-13 and 2013-14 only three under-23 batsmen scored centuries in the shield: Marcus Harris, Nic Maddinson and Jordan Silk.

Queensland alone has exceeded that this season, with Heazlett, Labuschagne, Renshaw and Wildermuth as the Bulls elected to risk short-term adverse results to expedite the introduction of new players.

Cricket Australia national talent manager Greg Chappell is widely reputed to be an evangelist for youth, a tag not always applied fondly. While he knows the job to replenish Australia's batting stocks is not completed, he is pleased it – evidently – is on track.

"It's a good sign … because batting has probably been a worry for us. [Many have asked] 'Where are the next generation of batsmen coming from?' And all of a sudden we are starting to see some new names that give us some hope," Chappell said.

"It's good they've got an opportunity, and it's even better that they've taken it."

There are players just beyond the under-23 qualification demographic who are making an impact too, most notably 23-year-old's Jake Lehmann and Travis Dean.

While the former is most widely heralded for his last-ball six to win a match during the Big Bash League, it was of more lasting consequence that the South Australian, who played two matches at the end of last season, scored 205 in his first match this season and another century in this current shield round. Victoria opener Dean made a century on debut, as part of a total of 347 across three innings until he was first dismissed.

Over the past five years CA has increasingly sought to persuade, and sometimes dictate, to states that their selection policies should primarily reflect a desire to supply candidates for the national team, even if it compromised winning state titles. Chappell said he had noted a more widespread "awareness in the system that the success of Australian cricket is based on the success of the Australian men's team".

Part of this has been the creation of a network of talent managers to work under Chappell. Every state talent manager is also the chief selector of their state team, giving them more sway with the coaches they work with who may not have seen as much of the young players whose selection is being advocated.

"We are starting to see the fruits of some of the decisions that were taken by Cricket Australia a few years ago in this area," Chappell argued. "I think the success of some of these young guys will encourage coaches and selectors at state level to keep giving these opportunities to the young players. Not every one of them is going to succeed – we're well aware of that – but if you don't find out you'll never know."

The creation of an additional team, the CA XI, in under-age competitions and the Matador Cup has been a way to give opportunities to players who may not necessarily make their first-choice state team. Wildermuth, Bosisto and leg-spinner Mitch Swepson are among the CA XI players who played in the Matador Cup who have gone on to play in the shield.

The century for Webster at the MCG was particularly pleasing for Chappell because the tall No.3 batsman fitted the category of a player not elite in under-age but, when given a chance at shield level, had showed he was capable of stepping up.

"It's good that the system is robust enough for guys to miss the main opportunities in youth cricket but there is another way to force your way through, and these guys have managed to that," Chappell said.

Chappell, a former Test batting great, has long heard the loud complaints about the lack of depth in Australian batting, such as during his most recent three-year stint as a selector, which ended in late 2011. He insisted the statistics about the number of under-23 batsmen thriving proved that scenario was changing.

"If you've got a dozen players under 23 making runs then Australian cricket looks pretty healthy, particularly when you look at the batch of young fast bowlers that are coming through and a few good spinners that are coming through," he said.

Chappell praised the wide team involved in identifying and coaching young players. He predicted it could improve further if interest in coaching from the likes of Ryan Harris, Brad Haddin, Mitch Johnson and Shane Watson builds.

"You need good coaches and good mentors at that level – and we've got them. Seeing Ryan Harris working with the under-19 team in Dubai recently is exciting," he said. "If we've got that quality of people showing interest in coaching and being prepared to work with the young cricketers of the future Australian cricket can be pretty comfortable we're in good shape."

Jesse Hogan has been a reporter at The Age since 2004, and has been part of its sports department since 2008. He is primarily focused on cricket and has covered a number of the Australian team's overseas tours, including the 2011 World Cup. He also reports on AFL and soccer.